When I Achieved Sainthood, the Immortal Official Actually Called Me to Raise Horses!

Chapter 76: The World Watches, What Defines a Sword Cultivator?

Seeing Gu An walking through the valley entrance, Wu Xin immediately ran to greet him.

In the distance, Lu Jiu Jia, who was assisting the servant disciples with their exercises, glanced briefly at Gu An but made no move to approach. Despite having returned for several years, Lu Jiu Jia still didn’t dare face Gu An directly. He avoided him whenever possible, burdened by guilt.

Lu Jiu Jia could never forget the resources Gu An had spent on him—those countless pills—and yet he had strayed down the wrong path, ultimately becoming a cripple. Thinking back, he felt only regret and self-reproach. He even believed his fate was deserved; after all, his time in the Demon-Slaying Hall had been marked by reprehensible deeds.

Gu An, however, made no special effort to console Lu Jiu Jia. Let the boy reflect and temper himself—it would do him good.

“Senior Brother, there was another spiritual energy disturbance last night,” Wu Xin informed him upon arrival. “It wasn’t as severe as before, but you should still be cautious while traveling.”

Gu An nodded. “I sensed it as well, which is why I returned. How is the situation in the Medicine Valley?”

“No issues so far. Oh, Senior Brother, will you watch the upcoming duel between the Sword Sovereign of the Righteous Path and the Da Yu Sword Maniac?”

“The Sword Sovereign has agreed to participate?” Gu An asked.

As they conversed, the two walked toward the pavilion.

The Xuan Valley had recently recruited another batch of servant disciples. While practicing their drills, many of them cast frequent glances at Gu An, brimming with curiosity about their enigmatic Valley Master. Rumor had it that the valley produced an Outer Sect Disciple every few years, fueling their expectations.

After exchanging a few words with Wu Xin, Gu An ascended to his quarters, intending to make new clothes for An Hao and An Xin. Half an hour later, he headed to the Third Medicine Valley to inspect its grounds.

The valley was vast, and Gu An needed to ensure there were no issues. A single dying herb could cost him precious years of lifespan!

The disciples in the Third Medicine Valley were also abuzz about the previous night’s spiritual energy disturbance, speculating wildly. Gu An chatted with them briefly before leaving at sunset.

Under the crimson sky, the forest grew dark.

An Hao stood on a tree branch, scanning the horizon as he searched for Gu An.

Below, An Xin called out nervously, “Do you think Master won’t come back?”

“He’ll come back!” An Hao replied firmly. “Master said he would, so he will!”

In truth, he wasn’t sure. The thought of Gu An possibly abandoning them made his chest tighten, and he had to fight back tears. But with An Xin watching, he couldn’t allow himself to cry. His father had once told him that boys could cry, but never in front of women. ȓ

Suddenly, a hand rested on An Xin’s head, startling her into a scream as she jumped back.

Hearing the commotion, An Hao quickly turned and saw the figure he had been waiting for all day. His face lit up with joy, and he exclaimed, “Master!” Leaping down, he rushed forward and hugged Gu An’s waist, just as An Xin had done that morning.

Upon recognizing Gu An, An Xin was equally excited and ran over to join in, wrapping her arms around him.

Despite knowing them for only two days, Gu An already held an unshakable place in their hearts.

Placing a hand on each of their heads, Gu An gently pushed them back and said, “Focus on your cultivation. If you slack off, I’ll leave you behind.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Master, if we make significant progress, will you stay with us?” An Hao asked.

Gu An retrieved two sets of clothing from his storage pouch and replied, “I’ve already told you, one day you’ll have to join the Taixuan Sect. I won’t accompany you forever. Once you’re strong enough to protect yourselves, I will leave.”

Hearing this, An Hao’s expression dimmed, while An Xin bit her lip, her eyes reddening with tears.

Ignoring their reactions, Gu An handed them the clothes and led them to the river in the forest.

Half an hour later, both children were dressed in their new outfits, their hair neatly combed. Together, they now resembled a charming pair of golden children, which explained why the demons had saved them for last—they might have been too reluctant to eat them.

Gu An decided to spend his nights with the children and his days back at the Taixuan Sect. The area within a thousand-mile radius was free of powerful demons, and the nearby villages and towns made it a safe environment for cultivation.

Days turned into weeks, and soon a month had passed.

The Outer Sect City was packed to the brim with spectators. Even the hills outside the city gates were dotted with cultivators seated in meditation. Disciples from the seven other Outer Sect Cities, the four Inner Sect Cities, and even the sect’s main city had all gathered for the spectacle. Some came merely to observe, while others hailed from rival sects, drawn by the event’s widespread notoriety.

The Taixuan Sect made no effort to suppress the excitement, and soon all of the Taicang Empire’s cultivation world was abuzz.

At the Southern Gate, Han Ming stood proudly, his sword case resting in front of him. His hands pressed against the case as the warm, late-summer breeze ruffled his robes.

On the city walls above, numerous cultivators watched him, whispering among themselves.

“Do you think the Sword Sovereign of the Righteous Path will show up?”

“I doubt it. Revealing his true identity will only invite endless trouble.”

“He must come. With his strength, what does he have to fear? Who in the world could defeat him?”

"They say the Sword Sovereign of the Righteous Path is actually the Sect Master. He avoids appearing to cultivate the image of another figure in the Taixuan Sect rivaling his strength."

"I heard the Da Yu Sword Maniac surpassed the Transformation Stage years ago. If this duel truly happens, it will be a battle for the ages."

On the city wall, Zuo Lin stood alongside his father, Zuo Yijian, gazing down at Han Ming’s figure with concern. Having apprenticed himself to Han Ming, Zuo Lin naturally worried about his master’s safety.

High in the sky, Jiang Qiong, accompanied by the ninth-level Transformation Stage cultivator Hu Mo, floated atop a massive gourd. They too were discussing the coming duel.

From the rooftop of a tall building, Ye Lan peered into the distance, her gaze fixed on the southern gate. The azure sky was cloudless, the mountains outside the city undulating like waves. Still, there was no sign of the Sword Sovereign.

Beside her stood over a dozen disciples from the Enforcement Hall, her subordinates, including Zhen Qin. All of them were visibly excited.

Meanwhile, five li away, Shen Zhen, her face veiled in black, stood atop a pagoda, also watching the southern gate with anticipation.

This duel, which had been brewing for a month, captivated the entire Taixuan Sect and even the wider cultivation world.

Under the eyes of thousands, Han Ming remained still, his eyes closed, patiently waiting.

In a wide forest, Gu An was teaching An Hao swordsmanship.

Within three days of starting his cultivation, An Hao had reached the second level of the Qi Refining Stage, and he was now at the third level. Thus, Gu An decided to teach him the Taicang Frightening God Sword Technique, providing him with a method of combat.

An Xin, on the other hand, was still in the process of gathering her first strand of spiritual energy. The gap in their aptitudes was as vast as a chasm.

Gu An only needed to demonstrate the technique once for An Hao to memorize it fully, making the instruction remarkably smooth.

So this is what it’s like to teach a genius? No wonder grandmasters favored prodigies; even Gu An found himself growing fond of An Hao.

As An Hao practiced, he asked curiously, “Master, what’s this sword technique called?”

Using only a wooden sword, his movements already generated sharp gusts of wind.

“Taicang Frightening God Sword Technique. You are the only one I have taught this sword art to, so do not tarnish its name,” Gu An replied.

With An Hao’s talent, he would undoubtedly be revered in the Taixuan Sect, especially as a disciple of the Sword Sovereign of the Righteous Path. That identity alone would deter even the sect from trying to suppress him.

“Taicang Frightening God Sword…” An Hao murmured, his eyes shining with admiration.

He could feel the technique’s profoundness. Each time he practiced a sword form, new insights surfaced, drawing him deeper into its mysteries.

The forest echoed with the sound of sword strokes slicing through the air as Gu An silently observed, his wooden mask concealing his expression.

In the distance, An Xin opened her eyes, gazing enviously at An Hao. She too wanted to practice swordsmanship.

After an hour, An Hao managed to produce a sliver of sword energy.

With a swing of his wooden blade, the energy streaked past Gu An, grazing his shoulder, and struck a tree behind him, leaving a fine cut on the trunk.

The instant he generated sword energy, An Hao seemed to break through a bottleneck. His movements became faster, smoother, and more graceful, as if his body flowed like water. The spiritual energy in the forest gradually converged toward him.

Gu An watched with a mix of awe and apprehension.

What kind of monster is this?

He realized the enormity of what he had done. If he hadn’t saved An Hao, the boy would have died in the belly of a demon, and the world would have lost this prodigious talent.

Gu An couldn’t help but pity the likes of Li Ya, Ji Xiaoyu, Lü Xian, and Zhou Tongyou—those so-called peerless geniuses of the age. Sorry, but the title of the world’s greatest belongs to my disciple.

Gu An himself had no interest in becoming the best under heaven. After all, even invincibility in this world could lead to encounters with enemies from beyond. His true pursuit was the end of the immortal path, which he believed extended far beyond this realm.

By noon, Gu An finally said, “Stop for now.”

An Hao immediately sheathed his sword, panting heavily and drenched in sweat, but his eyes sparkled with vitality.

“Master, how did I do?” he asked with a proud grin. At twelve years old, his confidence was already budding.

“You focus too much on the sword in your hand. Remember, the sword is not in your hand but in your heart. Whatever your heart wills can become a sword. Go pick a leaf,” Gu An instructed.

An Hao scratched his head but obediently walked off to find a leaf.

Gu An then gestured for An Xin to approach. Seeing his beckoning, she beamed with delight and rushed over.

“Xin’er, you go pick a leaf as well,” Gu An said gently.

An Xin quickly complied, and moments later, both children returned with leaves in hand, curious to see what Gu An would do.

Gu An took the leaf from An Hao first.

“A true swordsman can unleash the power of a supreme sword with even a simple leaf,” he said.

Holding the leaf between two fingers, Gu An flicked it lightly toward the distance.

Boom!

A sudden gale erupted, disheveling the children’s hair as their eyes widened in disbelief.

The leaf erupted with terrifying sword energy, tearing through the forest ahead. With an overwhelming aura, it slashed toward the horizon, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

A swath of the forest, ten zhang wide, was obliterated, leaving a dusty void.

The direction it struck? The outskirts of the Taixuan Sect’s Outer Sect City.